Nanaimo developments

[Metro-One]

I'm sure they will! They will be right next to the ocean.

[Islandtime]

Vancouver Island University is getting 266 new student-housing beds and a new dining hall in an $87.8-million project .

City council voted to issue a development variance permit for a 10-storey hybrid mass timber student housing complex on VIU campus at 900 Fifth St.

Construction is set to start next spring.

[Islandtime]

A 10-storey building could rise up along the shores of Nanaimo.

The City of Nanaimo has received a rezoning application from Waterfront Holdings Ltd. for a proposed 10-storey hotel and condominium complete with two conference rooms, a restaurant and cocktail bar at 1000 Stewart Avenue. The existing Waterfront Suites and Marina building would be demolished, should the project come to fruition.

According to documents available on the city’s website, the hotel would be approximately 45 metres tall and would feature a 732.5-square metre conference room and restaurant and a 555-square metre cocktail bar and lounge.







https://www.nanaimobulletin.com/news...rfront-1076303

[VantageHD]

I like that. Very sleek!

[Islandtime]

Small but essential....a new Porsche dealership.

[Islandtime]

Snuneymuxw First Nation Chief Michael Wyse
announced on Monday, July 15 the return of 6.6 acres
(2.67 hectares), the site of the former Howard
Johnson Hotel, through a joint purchase by the province
and the First Nation.....Snuneymuxw First Nation hopes
to have the current derelict buildings demolished in the
next four months, before preparing the property for
development.

https://nanaimonewsnow.com/2024/07/1...oint-purchase/

[Islandtime]

After posting the story about the Howard Johnson hotel demolition above I went looking for more examples of worn out properties in Nanaimo and I was very surprised to find three properties, which have been dormant for years, under new construction or undergoing complete rebuilds/renovations all at the same time!

Example #1

Amrikkos By The Sea. A busy restaurant in Departure Bay until it was closed in 2013 due to a fire. In 2018 it was demolished, leaving an eyesore of a vacant lot right across from Departure Bay Beach. A new 3 storey building is currently under construction on the site. 11 years in the making.

2013 to 2018 left derelict,



https://nanaimonewsnow.com/2018/03/0...e-bay-eyesore/

2018 demolition



https://nanaimonewsnow.com/2020/03/1...ly-demolished/

2024 New Construction underway



https://nanaimonewsnow.com/2018/05/1...ture-bay-core/

I will post #2 and #3 in the coming days.

[Islandtime]

The second derelict building currently undergoing a renovation/update is the A@B building in downtown Nanaimo. It has been vacant since 2008.

Due to complex issues like soil remediation, potential geotechnical issues and the history of the site, the building can’t just be knocked down and rebuilt.

Owners Steiner Properties suggested that:

A restaurant will anchor the bottom floor, with the potential for a second restaurant to be included downstairs, Steiner noted.

He expects their primary contractor will be finished this summer and that tenants will begin occupying their respective spaces by late this year.

A Nanaimo version of a Granville Island-style market with an internal breezeway corridor will house several retail outlets which will be in the range of 800 to 900 sq/ft in size each, he said.

“I feel confident that it was an interesting approach that I feel the City and community will respond to and hopefully we’ll get a great mix of tenants in there very soon.”

He said businesses such as unique food, wellness and clothing retailers are envisioned tenants for the market.

https://nanaimonewsnow.com/2024/01/0...ound-building/

[Islandtime]

In conjunction with the revitalized A@B sound building the city of Nanaimo is just completing a substantial street upgrade adjaceent to it. The A@B development is in the lower right corner and the larger building is a proposal.



https://www.timescolonist.com/local-...wntown-7218164

[Islandtime]

This is a better indication of the current streetscaping project and the relationship to the A&B building upgrade.



https://www.beautifulnanaimo.ca/post...infrastructure

[Islandtime]

The project includes 34 non-market rental homes plus 356 new rental homes across three sites including both affordable and market rental. Additionally, 432 new underground parking stalls to serve new residents and visitors


https://letstalkhousingbc.ca/nanaimo-tetuxwtun

Early concept design:



https://nanaimonewsnow.com/2023/05/0...t-in-harewood/

[Islandtime]

Ocean View



Telus Living



Arc 21

[Islandtime]

Housing with attached retail opportunities is one step closer to being built in the downtown core on the site of a City of Nanaimo staff parking lot.

A development permit was approved Monday, July 22, for lots at 350 and 398 Franklyn St. to be turned into a five-storey residential complex with 53 apartments with a ground floor commercial unit.

https://nanaimonewsnow.com/2024/07/2...opment-permit/

[Islandtime]

This final project is my favourite. Nanaimo's Sealand Market has been vacant/underused for the better part of two decades! It is ocean side and just a beautiful site and only a 5 minute walk from the Departure Bay ferry terminal. It is at the leasing stage.

The main building would be renovated and reconfigured with 11 units, including Beefeaters Chophouse and Grill restaurant and a Coast Salish Canna cannabis retail store, while the other two buildings – Miller’s Pub and the Marine Store at Stone’s Boatyard – would also be renovated and would retain their current uses.

The main building would receive a new timber-frame entrance way with Coast Salish cultural elements. Two totem poles are shown in concept drawings.

“It has become quite dilapidated, the main building, and I think what [the architect’s] done, the overall design, has really captured what Snuneymuxw is looking for,” Guild said.

Architect Glenn Hill of DHK Architects said the property, situated close to B.C. Ferries, Saysutshun and other waterfront land, has some “unique adjacencies” which present opportunities.

“We wanted to exploit what’s there and give it a fresh lease on life,” he said.

Hill said the intention was to work with the existing structures and use materials and colours “indicative of waterfront, semi-industrial, commercial and the boatyard style” appropriate to the property.

The new retail spaces would be in an array of sizes, he said, “the ambition being coffee shops, ice cream shops, things that would promote the culture of the seawall walk and hopefully a significant retail or restaurant component with exterior decks and patios that would take full advantage of being at the entryway to Newcastle Channel.”

https://www.nanaimobulletin.com/news...vation-1103377

Images to follow......

[Islandtime]

For additional exterior and interior shots please visit

https://rs.locationshub.com/Home/Mos...d=081-10098152

[Islandtime]

The original is a beautiful timber beam structure. The upgrade has emphasized that and returned it to all its timber beam beauty.

[Dylan Leblanc]

Wow, nice to see so much going on in Nanaimo!

[Islandtime]

An area immediately south of downtown Nanaimo, branded as the Harbourview District, has seen much development over the last two years. Building activity continues to be strong.

The move to greater density was predictable - this area is near to the ocean and the amenities of downtown, and the Hullo/Helijet terminals...... There's a lot of demand for ocean view condos in Nanaimo! We had already seen some early new developments in the area, namely Robins Grove and the Seven, before Harbourview was announced.

https://www.nanaimoinformation.com/harbourview.php

[Islandtime]

These buildings are indicative of the condo construction taking place in the Harbour View district of Nanaimo. They are all in very close proximity to the city centre.







https://www.nanaimoinformation.com/harbourview.php

[Islandtime]

Currently under developmen in the Harbourview District is the Paramount a five storey condo project offering 44 units and comes with hints of the art deco period on the exterior.



https://www.nanaimobulletin.com/news...street-1116116